Every year, Black Monday sounds the death knell for a bevy of NFL coaches. It’s the day when owners and fans have seen enough to know their coach isn’t the right fit. It’s unfortunate that so many coaches lose their job each year, but it’s simply the nature of the NFL beast. Here are four coaches that should or have already received the ax this offseason.
Chuck Pagano
There’s no doubt that The Colts’ Chuck Pagano is a tough and inspiring guy. But his rah rah style just hasn’t worked the past two years. In fact, most observers believe it was Andrew Luck, not Pagano, who put the Colts in the playoffs his first three years.
Pagano just isn’t the guy. His teams come in unprepared and lack discipline. And too many times, Pagano has made inexplicable in game decisions, like the ill advised fake punt last year that doomed The Colts against New England. Andrew Luck and Colts’ fans deserve a fresh start.
Rex Ryan – Fired December 27
Rex Ryan’s tenure in Buffalo needs to end this offseason. After a ton of hype and high expectations, Ryan’s Bills have under performed. An 8-8 campaign last year left fans and management frustrated, and this season looks to end the same way — an average team out of the playoffs.
Ryan’s brash style just hasn’t played well. There’s more loud talk than execution, and the defense hasn’t developed. It’s time for the Bills to move on to quieter pastures.
LeSean McCoy and wide receiver Sammy Watkins say discipline was an issue during Rex Ryan’s tenure.
“It’s discipline,” Watkins said Thursday. “Whatever around the locker room that needs to be addressed — on the field, off the field, flags, whether it’s a running drill. … I just think being professional as players [needs to be] fixed first.
“Then the coaches have to be hard on us, not scared of us. Get at us, yell at us, curse at us. Whatever to get the player to do that job the best he can, that’s what they need to do.”
